# HIBT Lab! UNLESS Collective: Eric Liedtke

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-05-16
- Length: 28m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke

## Summary

Eric Liedtke, former Global Brand President at Adidas, explains his transition from revitalizing a major sportswear brand to founding UNLESS Collective, a startup creating 100% plant-based, biodegradable apparel. He details the environmental failures of the fashion industry, specifically the persistence of plastic waste and the limitations of recycling, which drove his decision to leave Adidas. Liedtke discusses the technical challenges of sourcing non-plastic materials, such as cellulose-based threads and water-based inks, and the supply chain complexities of manufacturing in the US and Portugal while maintaining a zero-waste ethos.

## Chapters

- [0:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=21) Introduction: Eric Liedtke and UNLESS Collective
- [3:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=192) Adidas Turnaround and Sustainability Push
- [5:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=355) The Problem with Plastic and Recycling
- [13:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=806) Founding UNLESS Collective and Material Science
- [20:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=1254) Supply Chain and Manufacturing Challenges
- [26:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke#t=1577) Future Product Roadmap and Brand Vision

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Adidas (company)
- UNLESS Collective (company)
- Kanye West (other)
- Beyonce (other)
- Tesla (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [050: Creating environmentally-friendly athletic apparel,  Tim Christian of OORR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-04-25-050-creating-environmentally-friendly-athletic-apparel-tim-christian-of-oorr) (Product Startup)
- [156 - Can Tru.Earth eliminate plastic from the home? Brad Liski thinks so!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-09-26-156-can-tru-earth-eliminate-plastic-from-the-home-brad-liski-thinks-so) (People of Packaging)
- [Founder Feature: Woo Pailet of LOO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-15-founder-feature-woo-pailet-of-loo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [103 - Sustainable Shipping Packaging with Saloni Doshi, CEO of Ecoenclose](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-02-01-103-sustainable-shipping-packaging-with-saloni-doshi-ceo-of-ecoenclose) (People of Packaging)
- [145 - Sustainable Packaging with MJ Werlein from Adept Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-08-09-145-sustainable-packaging-with-mj-werlein-from-adept-packaging) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-16-hibt-lab-unless-collective-eric-liedtke. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.